But now it has said that only 48 jobs are under threat, after 25 people took voluntary redundancy, five roles were taken out of consideration for redundancy and other members of staff were not replaced when they left the organisation.

And the trust has now said it will increase the number of new jobs to 70.

It will also increase pay across the organisation by 2 per cent and introduce a new pay and grading structure that it said would "bring about significant" increases in salaries for staff with key skills, such as gardeners.

The charity said the changes to the structure were designed to concentrate administrative duties with regional managers, leaving staff based at the trust’s properties free to focus on visitor services.

The charity also announced its corporate strategy for the next five years today, which commits it to spending almost £60m on Scotland’s built and natural heritage over the next five years.

It also plans to grow annual visitor numbers to more than five million, build its membership base from 375,000 to 490,000 and increase annual income from donations from £6m to £10m by 2023.

Simon Skinner, chief executive of the National Trust for Scotland, said that in order to deliver on the charity’s ambition to conserve and promote Scotland’s heritage, it needed to "create an efficient and sustainable business".

He said: "Our charity is unique in Scotland in that its remit is to protect the full spectrum of cultural, built and natural heritage.

"This plan for the next five years sets out how we can make the trust fit for the future, through investment in every aspect of our organisation – our people, our places – and delivering the technology that both of them need in an ever-changing world."

He said the strategy gave the charity a renewed focus on the future and underlined its commitment to the totality of Scotland’s heritage, landscapes, legacy and communities.

"Celebrating the past, while looking firmly ahead, we will ensure that our heritage is valued by all and kept safe for generations to come," he said.

Patrick Duffy, the trust’s chief operating officer, said the consultation on potential job losses had been conducted with maturity and constructiveness.

He said: "Although there will be redundancies, and we are very sensitive to the needs of those affected, there is also a very positive outcome in that so many new roles are being created.

"Each affected person effectively has two potential opportunities to find a new place within the trust."

He said the charity would encourage and support current workers to apply for new roles once recruitment was under way.